Low-cost communication phased-array antenna

Abstract

A phased-array antenna structure is provided that includes an antenna waveguide structure with a plurality of waveguides. The antenna waveguide structure propagates the received or transmitted electromagnetic (EM) signals within the plurality of waveguides to a corresponding active array module. Each active array module amplifies and adjusts the phase of a received or transmitted EM signal. The active array modules are coupled to an interconnect structure that provides EM signal propagation paths, as well as power and digital signal paths, to and from the active array modules. A plate is coupled to the interconnect structure and the antenna waveguide structure to support the antenna waveguide structure, the electronic modules, and the interconnect structure, thereby forming a rigid unit and keeping the electronic modules in alignment with their corresponding waveguides in the antenna waveguide structure. The plate also includes waveguides for propagating the EM signals from the interconnect structure to the antenna output. The active array modules each include an integrated polarizer for selectably operating with either right-hand circularly polarized signals or left-hand polarized signals. The polarizer, amplifiers and phase shifters are mounted on a substrate in each active array module, with the substrate disposed in a position normal to the propagation of the EM signals in the corresponding waveguide of the antenna waveguide structure, resulting in a planar configuration. Further, each active array module includes a waveguide as an integral part of the active array module.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A phased-array antenna structure comprising: an antenna waveguide structure including a plurality of waveguides, said antenna waveguide structure being configured to propagate electromagnetic (EM) signals within said plurality of waveguides;   a plurality of electronic modules, each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules being coupled to a corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure, wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules is configured to adjust a phase of an EM signal received by the electronic module; and   a multilayer wiring board discrete from and coupled to said plurality of electronic modules, said multilayer wiring board including EM signal propagation paths intercoupled between said plurality of electronic modules, wherein said EM signal propagation paths are configured to propagate a signal corresponding to an EM signal propagated in a waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure.   
     
     
       2. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules is configured to adjust the phase of said EM signal received by the electronic module from said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       3. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 2 wherein said EM signal propagation paths of said multilayer wiring board are configured to distribute a radio frequency signal to said plurality of electronic modules. 
     
     
       4. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules is configured to adjust the phase of said EM signal received by the electronic module from said EM signal propagation paths of said multilayer wiring board, and to provide the phase-adjusted EM signal to said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       5. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 4 wherein said EM signal propagation paths of said multilayer wiring board include a plurality of EM couplers, the EM signal propagation paths being capable of collecting radio frequency signals from said plurality of electronic modules. 
     
     
       6. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 wherein said multilayer wiring board further includes digital signal propagation paths coupled to said plurality of electronic modules. 
     
     
       7. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 further comprising a plate coupled to said multilayer wiring board and said antenna waveguide structure with fasteners, said fasteners securing said antenna waveguide structure, said plurality of electronic modules, said multilayer wiring board and said plate together, wherein said fasteners permit facile assembly and disassembly of said antenna waveguide structure, said plurality of electronic modules, said multilayer wiring board and said plate as a unit. 
     
     
       8. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 7 wherein said plate includes a waveguide, said waveguide of said plate being configured to provide an EM signal propagation path to at least one of said EM signal propagation paths of said multilayer wiring board. 
     
     
       9. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 8 further comprising a waveguide combiner coupled to said waveguide of said plate. 
     
     
       10. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 8 further comprising a stripline-to-waveguide coupler coupled to said multilayer wiring board and said plate. 
     
     
       11. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 10 wherein said stripline-to-waveguide coupler comprises a coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
       12. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 wherein said EM signal propagation paths of said multilayer wiring board comprise a stripline. 
     
     
       13. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of compliant connectors, wherein each compliant connector of said plurality of compliant connectors is configured to couple an electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules to a corresponding EM signal propagation path of said multilayer wiring board. 
     
     
       14. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 13 wherein said compliant connector comprises an elastomeric connector. 
     
     
       15. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 13 wherein said compliant connector comprises a fuzz button connector. 
     
     
       16. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sockets, each said socket of said plurality of sockets being configured to couple an electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules to a corresponding EM signal propagation path of said multilayer wiring board. 
     
     
       17. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 1 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules comprises: a first EM signal probe;   a second EM signal probe;   a first amplifier coupled to said first EM signal probe;   a second amplifier coupled to said second EM signal probe; and   a phase shifter coupled to said first amplifier.   
     
     
       18. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 17 wherein said phase shifter is coupled to said second amplifier. 
     
     
       19. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 17 further comprising a quadrature network coupled to said first amplifier, said second amplifier and said phase shifter, said first amplifier coupled to said phase shifter through said quadrature network, wherein said quadrature network is capable of introducing an approximately 90° phase difference between a signal that is propagated on said first probe and a second signal that is propagated on said second probe. 
     
     
       20. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 19 wherein said quadrature network introduces said approximately 90° phase difference after said signals are propagated on said first probe and said second probe. 
     
     
       21. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 19 wherein said quadrature network introduces said approximately 90° phase difference before said signals are propagated on said first probe and said second probe. 
     
     
       22. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 21 further comprising a polarity switch coupled to said quadrature network and said phase shifter, said quadrature network coupled to said phase shifter through said polarity switch. 
     
     
       23. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 17 wherein each said electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules has said first and second amplifiers and said phase shifters mounted on a single substrate, said substrate disposed normally to a direction of EM signal propagation in said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       24. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 17 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules further comprises a waveguide in operative position with said first and second EM signal probes. 
     
     
       25. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 24 further comprising a coaxial transmission line, wherein said first EM signal probe is coupled to said first amplifier through said coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
       26. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 17 wherein said plurality of electronic modules can be selectably configured to propagate left-hand circularly polarized signals or right-hand circularly polarized signals. 
     
     
       27. A phased-array antenna structure comprising: an antenna waveguide structure including a plurality of waveguides, said antenna waveguide structure being capable of propagating electromagnetic (EM) signals within said plurality of waveguides;   a plurality of electronic modules, each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules being in operative position with a corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure, wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules comprises, a first EM signal probe;   a second EM signal probe;   a first amplifier coupled to said first EM signal probe;   a second amplifier coupled to said second EM signal probe; and   a phase shifter coupled to said first amplifier; and     an interconnect structure coupled to said plurality of electronic modules, wherein said interconnect structure includes conductive paths configured to provide power and control signals to said plurality of electronic modules and conductive paths coupled between electronic modules of said plurality of electronic modules and configured to propagate EM signals corresponding to EM signals that are propagated in waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure.   
     
     
       28. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said phase shifter of each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules is configured to shift a phase of an EM signal corresponding to an EM signal that is received from said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       29. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said phase shifter of each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules is configured to shift a phase of an EM signal received from a conductive path of said interconnect structure, the electronic module being configured to output the phase adjusted EM signal to said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       30. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said plurality of electronic modules can be selectably configured to propagate left-hand circularly polarized signals or right-hand circularly polarized signals. 
     
     
       31. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said phase shifter is coupled to said second amplifier. 
     
     
       32. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 further comprising a quadrature network coupled to said first amplifier, said second amplifier and said phase shifter, said first amplifier coupled to said phase shifter through said quadrature network, wherein said quadrature network is capable of introducing an approximately 90° phase difference between a signal that is propagated on said first probe and a second signal that is propagated on said second probe. 
     
     
       33. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said quadrature network introduces said approximately 90° phase difference after said signals are propagated on said first probe and said second probe. 
     
     
       34. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein each said electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules has said first and second amplifiers and said phase shifters mounted on a single substrate, said substrate disposed normal to a direction of EM signal propagation in said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       35. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules comprises first and second coaxial transmission lines that are configured to couple said first and second EM signal probes to said first and second amplifiers, respectively. 
     
     
       36. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said active phased-array antenna operates at a frequency band of about 6 GHz to about 45 GHz. 
     
     
       37. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules further comprises a waveguide in operative position with said first and second EM signal probes. 
     
     
       38. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 37 wherein said waveguide of each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules comprises a T0-8 transistor package, said substrate being mounted on a header of said T0-8 transistor package. 
     
     
       39. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 further comprising a stripline-to-waveguide coupler coupled to said interconnect structure. 
     
     
       40. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 39 wherein said stripline-to-waveguide coupler comprises a coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
       41. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 27 wherein said interconnect structure comprises a multilayer wiring board with a plurality of striplines intercoupling said plurality of electronic modules. 
     
     
       42. An individual electronic module for use in an active phased-array antenna, said individual module comprising: a waveguide having a discrete wave receiving passage;   a first electromagnetic (EM) signal probe disposed within said waveguide passage;   a second EM signal probe disposed within the same waveguide passage as said first EM signal probe;   a first amplifier coupled to said first EM signal probe;   a second amplifier, separate from said first amplifier, coupled to said second EM signal probe; and   a phase shifter coupled to said first amplifier.   
     
     
       43. The electronic module of claim 42 wherein said phase shifter is coupled to said second amplifier. 
     
     
       44. The electronic module of claim 42 further comprising a quadrature network coupled to said first amplifier, said second amplifier and said phase shifter, said first amplifier coupled to said phase shifter through said quadrature network, wherein said quadrature network is capable of introducing an approximately 90° phase difference between a signal that is propagated on said first probe and a second signal that is propagated on said second probe. 
     
     
       45. The electronic module of claim 42 wherein said quadrature network introduces said approximately 90° phase difference after said signals are propagated on said first probe and said second probe. 
     
     
       46. The electronic module of claim 42 wherein said electronic module has said first and second amplifiers and said phase shifters mounted on a single substrate, said substrate disposed normal to a direction of EM signal propagation in said corresponding waveguide of said plurality of waveguides of said antenna waveguide structure. 
     
     
       47. The electronic module of claim 42 further comprising a coaxial transmission line, wherein said first EM signal probe is coupled to said first amplifier through said coaxial transmission line. 
     
     
       48. The electronic module of claim 42 wherein said electronic module is capable of operating at a frequency between about 6 GHz to about 45 GHz. 
     
     
       49. The electronic module of claim 42 wherein said electronic further comprises a waveguide in operative position with said first and second EM signal probes. 
     
     
       50. The electronic module of claim 49 wherein said waveguide of said electronic module comprises a T0-8 transistor package. 
     
     
       51. A phased-array antenna structure comprising: an antenna waveguide structure including a first waveguide and a second waveguide, said antenna structure capable of propagating electromagnetic (EM) signals within said first waveguide and said second waveguide;   a first electronic module coupled to said first waveguide of said antenna waveguide structure, wherein said first electronic module is configured to adjust a phase of a first EM signal that is received from said first waveguide of said antenna waveguide structure;   a second electronic module coupled to said second waveguide of said antenna waveguide structure, wherein said second electronic module is configured to adjust a phase of a second EM signal that is received from said second waveguide of said antenna waveguide structure; and   a multilayer wiring board coupled to said first electronic module and said second electronic module, said multilayer wiring board including a first EM signal propagation path coupled to said first electronic module and a second EM signal propagation path, said second EM propagation path being coupled to said second electronic module, wherein said first EM signal propagation path is capable of propagating a first signal corresponding to said first EM signal propagated in said first waveguide of said antenna waveguide structure and wherein said second EM signal propagation path is capable of propagating a second signal corresponding to said second EM signal propagated in said second waveguide of said antenna waveguide structure.   
     
     
       52. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 51 wherein each electronic module of said plurality of electronic modules comprises: first EM signal probe;   a second EM signal probe;   a first amplifier coupled to said first EM signal probe;   a second amplifier coupled to said second EM signal probe; and   a phase shifter coupled to said first amplifier.   
     
     
       53. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 51, wherein said plurality of electronic modules are detachably coupled to said multilayer wiring board. 
     
     
       54. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 51, wherein said plurality of electronic modules are disposed between said antenna waveguide structure and said multilayer wiring board and held in place by a compressive force between said antenna waveguide structure and said multilayer wiring board. 
     
     
       55. The phase-array antenna structure of claim 51, wherein said multilayer wiring board comprises a combiner coupling the first and second EM signal propagation paths. 
     
     
       56. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 55, wherein the first and second EM propagation paths each comprise a stripline oriented to be parallel to a plane containing said multilayer wiring board. 
     
     
       57. The phased-array antenna structure of claim 55, wherein the combiner comprises a Wilkinson combiner.